Where Should A Good Consumer Register For Wedding Gifts?

We post plenty of wedding registry horror stories here at Consumerist. Knowing this, reader Elizabeth would like to know: where are the best places to register?

She writes:

My boyfriend proposed to me New Year’s Eve (and I said yes), and now we’re embarking on the fun journey of planning an un-Jonas-Brothers-like wedding on Long Island. After seeing stories about the good and bad experiences other readers have had with various wedding and gift registries, I was wondering if there was a list of “best of” places to register. We’re thinking Bed, Bath, and Beyond for their great return policy, and are now weighing the benefits among Macy’s, JCPenney, and Crate & Barrel. Horror stories (and success stories) much appreciated!

Suggestions from the point of view of both the gift-giver and recipient are appreciated.